Nearly 12,000 under-21s among 586,824 drug arrests in two years

Friday, 23 October 2026 04:51 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament yesterday that 586,824 people have been arrested in 588,180 drug raids over the past two years, including nearly 12,000 aged below 21.

Wijepala said the Government had intensified investigations into drug-related offences. Of those arrested, 11,970, about 2% of the total, were below 21, comprising 11,737 boys and 233 girls. Most were young adults, with 10,673 boys and 216 girls aged between 18 and 21. A further 1,064 boys and 14 girls below 18 had also been arrested, he said.

The Government also froze assets worth Rs. 10 billion over the past two years, allegedly acquired through illegal means, Wijepala said.